Launching Shackleton Quests, polar exploration experiences

We are delighted to announce the launch of Shackleton Quests, polar exploration experiences led by former SAS soldier and record-breaking explorer Louis Rudd MBE.

A century after Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on his final Antarctic expedition onboard Quest, we are launching a new venture, Shackleton Quests, taking adventurers into spectacular environments to experience the thrills and challenges of polar exploration. The Quests will be led by our Director of Expeditions Louis Rudd MBE, a former SAS soldier and record-breaking explorer described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as a man who “will go down in polar history”. 

Louis Rudd brings an unparalleled knowledge of polar regions to the Shackleton Quests, which have been designed to build mental and physical endurance, taking adventurers outside of their comfort zone in a stunning environment to discover what they’re made of.

The firsts Quests will take place in Finse, Norway in March 2021 (the training ground for many polar explorers, including Ernest Shackleton, Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen). You can choose between the six-day ‘Finse Polar Experience’, an introduction to polar travel, or the more demanding ‘Finse Polar Challenge’, a seven-day 80km glacier traverse on skis, hauling pulks packed with tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking fuel. You'll camp out in the elements in temperatures well below freezing and learn the skills needed to survive in some of the toughest conditions on the planet, equipped in our performance outerwear.

“We are hugely excited to be launching Quests and sharing the challenges of polar travel with those who are looking for something very different," says Rudd. "Finse is a tough, remote, stunning place – you step outside the iconic hotel straight into a snowy landscape, which soon becomes true wilderness. The Quests involve all the elements of a genuine Antarctic expedition, from the excitement of preparation and the adventure of camping in freezing temperatures, to a sense of achievement when you reach the end.”

Each Shackleton Quest is limited to six people to ensure a guide-to-participant ratio of 3:1, with starting costs of £3750 per person (including £1895 worth of Shackleton apparel). The day-to-day itineraries and further details can be found at HERE.